Healthcare administration tackles the business side of healthcare, dealing with costs, hiring and facility management. Anyone interested in healthcare administration needs a degree in a related field. For those pursuing a master's degree, an undergrad degree in business, health services or public administration is beneficial. An undergrad degree can help graduates gain entry-level employment in the healthcare field, but a master's degree is required for senior level positions.

Healthcare management training consists of hands-on experience with technical education. Once you have an undergrad degree, there are hospital administration courses online that help you work toward a masters degree. When continuing health care administration training and education consider the following:

1. The more practical experience the better. Look for opportunities to expand your knowledge base, such as internships.

2. All online courses should be accredited. There's a risk of an employer or future school not accepting your credit hours due to the granting institution being unaccredited.

3. Healthcare administration is a growing field, meaning competition will get tighter as more people consider a healthcare management degree.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for a healthcare administration fellowship

One of the best ways to take advantage of healthcare administration training is to apply for a fellowship. Fellowships for graduate students exist all over the country at different facilities. By obtaining a fellowship, you get in-depth training and can advance your education by working directly with experienced healthcare management professionals.

I recommend: Check out the listing of fellowships available by state at ACHE. Read the requirements and find out how to apply for a very competitive fellowship at The University of Pennsylvania Health System website.

Take healthcare administration online classes

There are a variety of healthcare administrator online courses that you can complete in the comfort of your own home. The advantage of online classes is that you don't have to commute and can continue working while completing your education. Some programs are for a beginning two-year degree, while other programs offer only masters or doctoral level classes.

I recommend: The courses listed at AcademicInfo are for two-year degrees in healthcare management, billing and coding and medical assisting. All of these courses can give you a head-start on a healthcare administration career. All Star Directories has a whole listing of online healthcare administration programs and schools.

Use your health care administration education to get certified

There are a couple certifications that graduates of a healthcare administration program can obtain to advance job prospects and increase salary. The certification requires sitting for an exam and meeting eligibility requirements.

I recommend: The American Health Information Management Association offers an exam that designates graduates as a registered health information administrator. The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management, also known as AAHAM, offers a few tests for clinical manager and technician certification.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many graduate programs in healthcare administration accept students who have a liberal arts degree. This is a good option if you're not sure if you want a masters degree in general healthcare administration or want to focus on a specialized area.

Healthcare administration is a booming field and healthcare administration education and training can help you to succeed in this field. Most people who work in healthcare administration find it to be a challenging yet rewarding career.

Those who have received healthcare management training are able to secure positions in busy hospitals. Healthcare administrator online courses are available, as well as traditional forms of healthcare administration education.

Before entering a career in this field, you should know:

1. Healthcare administrators often work long hours, especially at busy clinics.
2. You will interact with many different kinds of people.
3. You can work while earning your healthcare administration education.
4. There is a high earning potential for healthcare administrators.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider attending a traditional college

If you are fresh out of high school, a traditional college experience offers many advantages over hospital administration courses online. You will be able to interact with your teachers and classmates in person.

I recommend: Colleges in your area may offer healthcare management classes. You should look there first. If you are living nearby, or willing to travel, Northland College in Wisconsin offers a program in healthcare administration, as does Western Career College, which has several campuses in Northern California. CollegeData allows you to search colleges to see which provide courses in healthcare management.

Consider taking hospital administration courses online

You can take healthcare administration online classes through many different schools. Healthcare administrator online courses offer a convenient way to study while you are still working.

I recommend: The University of Phoenix is a well-known college that offers a superior healthcare administration education. The American InterContinental University Online offers an Associate's degree with a concentration in healthcare management.

Receive an MBA online

While an undergraduate degree in healthcare administration is excellent, receiving an MBA in hospital administration is sure to impress potential employers. Many MBA programs offer a specialization in healthcare administration.

I recommend: Colorado Technical University Online offers an MBA with a concentration in healthcare administration online. You can also request information from Merylhurst University, which is recognized in the US News and World Report's Best Colleges Guide.

Receive healthcare administration certification

Gaining certification and credentials in your field helps you to achieve success. Healthcare management training and certification programs often do not take much of your time, but they can make a big difference in the opportunities available to you.

I recommend: The American College of Healthcare Executives offers the opportunity to become board certified through their healthcare administration training program. Capella University also offers a certification program.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Hire a professional resume writer to make your resume look good by highlighting the healthcare administration education and training you have received.
• •  Traditional healthcare administration education programs may be able to offer more hands-on experience than online programs.
• •  There are many different levels of healthcare administration education. Decide whether an Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, or Master's degree is best for you.